ASH Daily news for 10 June 2015

HEADLINES

Ten million Britons still smoke. A levy on the tobacco industry could help them stop

Tobacco Firms ‘Should Pay To Help Smokers Stop’

Smoking Still Kills: Government announced key recommendation: a new tobacco control strategy

Opposition grows to the Welsh Government’s plan to ban on smoking electronic cigarettes in public places

Electronic cigarette adverts banned on social media

Electronic cigarettes ban introduced by rail firm

Obama photo ignites rumors that the president has rekindled smoking habit

Parliamentary Questions

Ten million Britons still smoke. A levy on the tobacco industry could help them stop

Peter Kellner, President of YouGov and the chair of the Editorial Board of ASH’s new report Smoking Still Kills, introduces the report’s recommendations.

The report recommends a target to reduce the rate of smoking to 5% by 2035 and proposes a levy on the tobacco industry to make the companies pay for the damage they do.

Kellner writes “ten million Britons still smoke regularly and the NHS bears the cost of treating smoking-induced cancer, diabetes, heart attacks and respiratory diseases. More than one million children suffer the twin burdens of poverty and smoking parents.

This is why the British Heart Foundation and Cancer Research UK have come together with ASH and more than 120 public health organisations to set out a plan for a smoke-free future.”

Tobacco Firms ‘Should Pay To Help Smokers Stop’

Tobacco companies should pay the Government an annual levy to cover the cost of helping people to stop smoking, according to ASH’s new report Smoking Still Kills.

The report also warns of a “startling and widening” health gap in society – as Britons living below the poverty line are more likely to live in a household that smokes and calls on the Government to set ambitious targets to reduce smoking rates.

Elsewhere in its report, ASH recommends that anti-smoking films are shown before TV shows and films which feature people smoking – especially if they are likely to be seen by children.

Smoking Still Kills: Government announced key recommendation: a new tobacco control strategy

Public Health Minister announces Government will press ahead with new tobacco strategy

Following the launch in Parliament of the Smoking Still Kills report Public Health Minister Jane Ellison announced that the Government would be going ahead with one of the report’s key recommendations – a new tobacco strategy.

ASH Chief Executive Deborah Arnott said:

“We are delighted that the Public Health Minister has committed to develop a new tobacco control plan. This was a key recommendation of our Smoking Still Kills report, which is essential if the Government’s vision of a smoke free future is to be achieved.

“ASH and the other 126 organisations endorsing the report are committed to supporting the Government as it develops a new strategy. But, it will need to be properly funded if it is to be fully effective.”

Opposition grows to the Welsh Government’s plan to ban on smoking electronic cigarettes in public places

Wales Online explores the reaction to the proposed ban on the use of electronic cigarettes in public spaces in Wales. They suggest that, whilst there is some support for the ban from the tourist industry, in general opposition is growing and there seems to be little support among any of the opposition parties.

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: “There is no conclusive evidence to resort to law to outlaw this particular past time.”

Welsh Lib Dem AM Kirsty Williams said: “The evidence for this decision is wafer thin. Banning things just for the sake of it isn’t a position any Government should take”.

Plaid Cymru’s Elin Jones said: “Electronic cigarettes are used widely by people who are trying to give up smoking, so we should be very careful not to halt that trend.”

Parliamentary Questions

PQ1: Smoking in cars with children

Luciana Berger Labour/Co-operative, Liverpool, Wavertree
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what preparations his Department is making for the commencement of the Smoke-free (Private Vehicles) Regulations 2015 on 1 October 2015.

Jane Ellison The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health
There will be a communications campaign to raise awareness of the Smoke-free (Private Vehicles) Regulations 2015 in advance of them coming into force on 1 October. Guidance and training materials are currently being developed and will be available for the police and local authority enforcement officers. Information will be available for local authorities so that they can work locally to help build compliance and raise awareness.

Luciana Berger: Labour/Co-operative, Liverpool, Wavertree
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what preparations his Department is making for the commencement of the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015 on 20 May 2016.

Jane Ellison: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health
Guidance will be made available to local authority trading standards officers, or in the case of Northern Ireland, environmental health officers. It will be developed with the relevant bodies responsible and made publically available before the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products Regulations 2015 come into force.

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